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that it didn’t explode and the colors came
out nicely. It’s also well balanced so I’m very
proud of that.”
The satisfaction of completing a beautiful
peace is amplified by how lengthy the process
is, as well as the fact that pieces don’t
always turn out as planned.
“It takes such a long time from start to
finish as it goes through all the different
stages, and the feeling of, ‘Wow, I’m
so excited about how this turned out’
doesn’t happen all the time,” she said.
Beckles uses her products in her own
life, so each style has been thoroughly
tested. She’ll often use the types of dishware
that are on the site to make sure they
are sturdy and built for what she made
them for. No one wants a cracked bowl
after dining from it once, right?
“I think living in Astoria for eight years
has influenced my sensibilities as far as
space goes,” Beckles said. “We live in
New York and we don’t have that much
space; what can I make that is beautiful
but also useful? My mom asked me if she
could put something I made her in the
dishwasher and that’s normally something
I wouldn’t think about because who
has a dishwasher? It’s such a luxury here.”
Beckles’ site contains everything from
simplistic, detailed bowls to earthycolored
planters. Many of her vases are
painted with deep and vibrant blues and
are perfect for displaying flower bouquets.
According to Beckles, some of her
most popular items are her “Hello Dotty”
products that range from bowls to planters.
The little cups are the ideal dish for
some spiked cider or a tiny succulent.
She found a space to practice her ceramics
in a studio in Chelsea called La
Mano, which is coincidentally the place
she took her first pottery classes. Beckles
is considered a “studio artist” so she pays
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